Dan Pearson

When I was 10 years old, my family moved home to an area where there weren’t many friends my age, so I spent most of his time with two elderly plantswomen, who were passionate about horticulture. One of them provided me with a weekend gardening job and by the time I reached my early teens I was committed to gardening.

With a determination to succeed in horticulture, I gave up my A-level studies (supported by my parents) and applied for a traineeship at RHS Garden Wisley since at that time entrants to the scheme had to be between 16 and 18 years old. At the interview I produced a photo album and planting plans for the garden I’d been building with my parents. Needless to say, I was accepted.

At the end of my traineeship I went to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh for a year to work on the Rock Garden and the Woodland Garden. I then completed a three-year course at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew. At the end of my education I started my own small business.

I now have a well-established garden design business and  have designed a number of award-winning Show Gardens at RHS Chelsea Flower Show. At RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2015, the garden I designed for Chatsworth and Laurent Perrier was awarded Best Show Garden and received an RHS Gold medal. I am a member of the Society of Garden Designers (MSGD), an honorary fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (Hon FRIBA) and a Royal Designer for Industry (RDI). Since 2014, I have been a Garden Advisor to the National Trust at Sissinghurst Castle.

I lecture and broadcast regularly and have written several books. I also write a weekly blog, Dig Delve.

Useful links

• RHS Qualifications and training
• Work-based training
• Careers in horticulture